Thrissur: Minister for Agriculture V. S. Sunil Kumar on Sunday heavily criticised the union government for not granting special funds for Kerala to mitigate the huge agricultural loss suffered following the devastating floods this time around.

“Even after pleading for assistance, the centre neither granted anything to cover Kerala’s agricultural losses nor did it grant special funds for the state. So far, the centre has given Kerala only what it was legally supposed to provide,” the minister said.

The centre and Kerala does not share a landlord-labourer relationship. The centre grants Kerala funds with conditions that make it impossible to use them and then blames the state for not utilising the central funds, Sunil Kumar added.

We approached and pleaded to the centre several times seeking assistance. What more can we do? Let them (centre) provide if they want. There is no point in waiting for centre’s assistance anymore. Even during the devastating deluge of 2018, the centre did not give Kerala anything, the minister said.

The centre is well aware of what is happening in the country. India is a federal republic and not a place ruled by kings. This is a time when the union and state governments must work together but the centre is talking about technicalities, Sunil Kumar said.

Kerala suffered agricultural losses to the tune of Rs 2,000 crore in the flood this year alone. According to data available till Saturday, agricultural losses due to crop failure as a result of floods in 2019 amounts to Rs 1,200 crore, the minister added.

Disclaimer: Kindly avoid objectionable, derogatory, unlawful and lewd comments, while responding to reports. Such comments are punishable under cyber laws. Please keep away from personal attacks. The opinions expressed here are the personal opinions of readers and not that of Mathrubhumi.